<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span>'s top envoys has asked the president to replace </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/football/news-2026-fifa-rejects-iran-calls-for-mexico-world-cup-games-20260318-p5okih.html" rel="" target="" title="Iran's team in the FIFA World Cup"><span>Iran's team in the FIFA World Cup</span></a><span> with Italy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Paolo Zampolli, a special envoy for global partnerships, told </span><em><span>FT</span></em><span> he had suggested the idea to both the president and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament," he said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-election-redistricting-gerrymandering-plan-backfires-virginia-congressional-race-referendum-results/efd3d84b-11a5-4cd7-b2f9-55d802facccd"><strong><span>Trump's bid to secure power for his party just backfired big time</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Italy is currently not participating in the tournament after failing to make it through the playoffs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The once-powerhouse of European football was </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/football/fifa-world-cup-2026-qualifers-turkiye-kosovo-result-italy-bosnia-scores-socceroos-group-d-opponent-australia-news-highlights-20260401-p5zkhu.html" rel="" target="" title="defeated by Bosnia and Herzegovina"><span>defeated by Bosnia and Herzegovina</span></a><span> last month.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/replace-iran-with-italy-fifa-world-cup-donald-trump-paolo-zampolli-usa-politics-news/d50e7c73-987e-4511-964b-259c5205610a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Zampolli argued the switch would repair relations with Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iran qualified for the World Cup last year after winning in the AFC qualifiers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donnyland-ukraine-proposes-renaming-donbas-region-after-donald-trump-russia-war/98037c25-6fa8-4a64-9732-b9f2edd54e6c"><strong><span>Ukrainian officials propose naming region after Donald Trump</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>So far, Infantino has spoken in favour of Iran participating in the tournament.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Iran has to come, they represent their people, they have qualified, the players want to play," he said last month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Sports should be outside of politics."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump was </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/football/fifa-world-cup-2026-donald-trump-welcomes-iran-to-play-amid-war-gianni-infantino-comments-20260311-p5o9nb.html" rel="" target="" title="less enthusiastic"><span>less enthusiastic</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety," he said last month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/football/news-2026-iran-pushes-back-donald-trump-comments-world-cup-20260314-p5oah6.html" rel="" target="" title="Iran has been resolute in having their players attend"><span>Iran has been resolute in having their players attend</span></a><span> the event, which is being hosted in Mexico, Canada and the USA.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite Zampolli's pleas, the US president does not have the power to decide what teams participate in the World Cup.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Milan-born Zampolli was appointed special envoy by his long-time friend Trump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/truth-social-donald-trump-devin-nunes-massive-losses-bitcoin-investment-usa-news/57ce532d-4fda-4354-b3db-9673a1ead2bc"><strong><span>CEO of Trump's media company ousted after losing billions</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The owner of a modelling agency, Zampolli, sponsored </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/melania-trump-box-office-bomb-session-times-australia-usa-politics-news/83eb9bc0-fd79-4667-bba5-6caef958fcab" rel="" target="" title="Melania Trump"><span>Melania Trump</span></a><span>'s visa to move to the USA in 1996.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two years later, he introduced her to Trump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein" rel="" target="" title="Zampolli was partners with Jeffrey Epstein"><span>Zampolli was partners with Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span> in a bid to purchase a modelling agency in 2004.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Zampolli has faced allegations that he instigated the arrest and deportation of his ex.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Amanda Ungaro had lived in the US for decades after being flown in from Brazil on Epstein's plane.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After a long custody battle over their 16-year-old son, Ungaro was arrested by ICE agents, and after several months in custody, was deported back to Brazil.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><em><span>New York Times</span></em><span> reported Zampolli had asked for Ungaro to be placed in ICE detention.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Zampolli later accompanied </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jd-vance" rel="" target="" title="Vice President JD Vance"><span>Vice President JD Vance</span></a><span> to Hungary as he campaigned unsuccessfully for </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/hungary" rel="" target="" title="Prime Minister Victor Orban"><span>Prime Minister Victor Orban</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/john-phelan-secretary-of-the-navy-donald-trump-pentagon-pete-hegseth-fired-usa-news/3c3b8f29-b129-4ba7-9d27-b967bcb111a7" target="" title="Trump's Secretary of the Navy abruptly leaving the Pentagon"><strong><span>Trump's Secretary of the Navy abruptly leaving the Pentagon</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 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